Carol Symes - University Of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Professor: Carol Symes

Department: TBD

College: University Of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

SHE IS AN AMAZING LECTURER. The only reason I got a C is because my TA was terrible. I look forward to taking a class with just her and no TA, because I really learn a lot from her. She is the sweetest lady ever.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS141
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This class asks a lot for a 100-level course. The final requires you to memorize an essay ahead of time, fill out 45 paragraph-long ID terms (only 4 of which actually appear on the exam, the other 40 are a waste of time), and papers are graded tough.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Symes is a good professor, but the class is asking way too much for a gen ed. There's only one midterm and a final, but these are really hard and don't have much at all to do with the lectures. Going into the exams blind is probably as easy as going into the exams having been to every lecture.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

The class itself is very easy. I never went to lectures and got 97% on the midterm, however, if you trying to fulfill your Advanced Composition require I don't recommend this class unless you truly enjoying reading history because they require you to read very bland material. The papers are graded leniently though, just a drag to write them.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST345
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I wish that the history department would give her more classes to teach. Shes by far the best history teacher Ive taken in undergrad. Passionate, entertaining, intelligent. She has a way of making each student feel intelligent and that they want to speak up in class. Lectures are fast-paced and kept me interested the whole class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Easy A. I stopped attending lecture after the midterm and ended up completely fine. Jun Huang was my TA. He's alright, he let me re-write a paper when I got a B+ on one so pretty much as long as you read the textbook/go to discussion (lecture you don't need to), you'll be fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS141
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This class is a great Gen Ed grade booster. An easy A. Lectures are not that necessary to succeed in the class. Professor Symes textbook is amazing and written to perfection. It is your best resource in this course. Read the textbook (30 pages a week) and you should be fine. Also Liz Adamo is the TA you want. She is amazing and gives little HW.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She's an amazing professor. She did theatre and gets really into what she teaches, which makes it much more enjoyable. She really knows what she's talking about and is very helpful. There were also quite a few extra credit opportunities. I wasn't a fan of history before this class, but it was such a great experience. Would love to take her again.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST345
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Carol is super helpful when it comes to the assignments. I got a B on one and she let me re-write it to get an A. She does not grade harshly. She knows what she's talking about and is super intelligent. There is reading but it's not overbearing like in other history classes. If you have the chance take a class with her because she is so cool.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great Class, really knows her stuff, lectures were intriguing and full of her own insights. go to lecture and discussion and youll do well. Tests were essay format but as long as you pay attention in lecture youll do fine as everything important is overemphasized... easy A and a great class

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I have hated history my entire life until I took this class with her. I'm not even done with it yet but she deserves the review now. She's absolutely brilliant and makes history fun. If you have the chance to take a class with her (especially 141), DO IT!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

One of most interesting professors I have ever had. Easy class if you pay attention and do the minimum. Recommended if you need some history course as a gen ed or cause history is your thing

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Discovered that only like 5% of what she lectures on is on the exam, so I stopped going after midterm. Section attendance is mandatory-- Ryan Bean is a sweet TA. 2 papers, 2 exams. I just read the textbook and went to section and got an A. Gives essay q's and exam ID's out, only somewhat hard part is putting in chrono. order.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great class

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Energetic and very into what she teaches I enjoyed every lecture even though they were early in the mornings.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Most of what you've read here is true. She likes to ham it up during lecture, but she is high energy and extremely smart. I loved having this class early in the morning, it set a good tone for the day. Make sure you attend discussion classes. Tests are tough for 100 level. And yes, she is kinda hot, and it is a bit distracting! I liked her!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HISTHIST
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is a passionate lecturer and very approachable. However, her midterm and final is IMPOSSIBLE. She expects you to know words from the material that was not covered in lecture. She chooses 10 words from the whole term and doesn't give a list of terms to study. I studied about 70 words and 1 of those made it on the test.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST445
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I LOVED this class! It was an interesting topic for me and Professor Symes is very interesting and enthusiastic and she's very good at leading class discussions. She's very approachable and helpful. There was a lot of reading which was necessary for discussions. Three four papers but no tests. Take her classes, she's awesome!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She was an animated and passionate teacher, but the material was difficult, and the T.A's are terrible. I do NOT recommend this course!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I already learned much of what was covered in this class in high school and I'm a history major, but her exams are IMPOSSIBLE (highest IN CLASS on midterm was 91%). She does seem passionate about what she teaches, but the lectures are ultimately useless. Material gets covered way too fast and you are expected to know everything in-depth for exams &